Back to jail ... Thomas Petersen was escorted from the Jackson County Courthouse by Kadoka Chief of Police Woody Davis following Petersen’s preliminary hearing last Thursday morning. Terry Deuter assisted in transport of Petersen to the Winner jail.

Thomas Petersen, 39, appeared in Jackson County court for a preliminary hearing Thursday, June 16, at 10:00 a.m. with Judge John Brown presiding.

Petersen has been held in jail following an incident in Jackson County on Sunday, June 4.

After his wife, Judy Petersen, of Greene, Iowa, was found dead, Thomas was named the suspect in the murder, and their two-year-old son, Jacob Duncan Petersen, was missing.

An Amber Alert was issued, which listed Petersen as armed and dangerous. He was later found in Jackson County.

Winner of the 2011 Philip Invitational Matched Bronc Ride ... Irvin Jones, owner of Jones’ Saddlery, Bottle & Vet of Philip, presented Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, with the winner’s spurs. The spurs are handcrafted by John Bauman, Long Valley, and presented to the winner of the short go of the annual bronc ride in Philip. (See Photo Gallery for more pictures of the bronc ride and Festival Days!)

The fifth annual Philip Invitational Matched Bronc Ride, held Friday, June 17, drew over 1,400 at the gate. With spectators, contestants, their families and all the workers, over 2,400 people were in attendance.

The starting 25 cowboys were cut down to a continuing 12. The top bronc ride scorer of the first round was Jeremy Meeks, Alzada, Mont., who stayed on the horse Jukebox for a score of 82.